Zhaode xinbian 昭德新編

Zhaode xinbian 昭德新編 "New book from Zhaode district" is a moral treatise written during the Northern Song period 北宋 (960-1126) by Chao Jiong 晁迥 (951-1034), courtesy name Mingyuan 明遠. He hailed from Qingfeng 清豐 in the prefecture of Chanzhou 澶州 (modern Chanzhou, Henan) and followed his father when the latter was appointed to an office in Pengmen 彭門 (modern Pengxian 彭縣, Sichuan). In 980, Chao Jiong obtained the jinshi degree and was appointed aide of the Chamberlain for Ceremonials (taichang cheng 太常丞). During the reign of Emperor Zhenzong 宋真宗 (r. 997-1022) he rose to the post of exhorter in the Imperial Secretariat (you zhengyan 右正言), and was a attached to the historiography institute as an edict drafter (zhizhigao 知制誥). Later on he became an academician (xueshi 學士) in the Hanlin Academy 翰林院, Director of the Bureau of Personnel Evaluation (zhi shenguanyuan 知審官院), Hanlin recipient of edicts (Hanlin xueshi chengzhi 翰林學士承旨), Minister of Works (gongbu shangshu 工部尚書), and Minister of Rites (libu shangshu 禮部尚書), and crowned his career with the title of Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent (taizi taibao 太子太保). His posthumous title is Chao Wenyuangong 晁文元公.

Chao Jiong was educated in the Confucian Classics, but was also knowledgeable in Buddhist and Daoist writings and wrote a book on Buddhism called Fazang suijin lu 法藏碎金錄.

The 3-juan-long book Zhaode xinbian is the product of his notes on "rectifying the way" (zhi dao 治道) and exhorting people to a virtuous behaviour, as it was told in all the ancient writings that Chao Jiong studied in his leisure time. It was Chao's wish to better mankind with the help of his notes on the ancient Confucian writings, with their elegant and refined style, and Buddhist writings with their substantial and comprehensive explanations. The name of the book is derived from the urban quarter in which Chao Jiong lived, Zhaode district 昭德坊.

The book was only printed during the Qingyuan reign-period 慶元 (1195-1200) by his fifth-generation descendant Chao Shuo 晁溯 after the manuscript had been presented to the throne by Li Tao 李燾 (1115-1184), who at the time was the owner of the single copy. The Zhaode xinbian is included in the series Chaoshi san xiansheng ji 晁氏三先生集 (a collection including poems of Chao Li 晁瑮 and Chao Dongwu 晁東吳 from the Ming period 明, 1368-1644), Shuofu 說郛 and Siku quanshu 四庫全書.